The CNN Internet edition on Friday cited the chief of the world's nuclear watchdog as saying that North Korea presents a far more dangerous situation than Iran when it comes to its nuclear standoff.

Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei of the International Atomic Energy Agency reportedly said in an interview with CNN that while the agency is aware of Pyongyang's possession of weapons-grade plutonium, that particular material has yet to be discovered in Iran.

In other words, the IAEA chief said that while Iran is only speculated to have developed a nuclear program, North Korea poses an imminent threat as the Stalinist regime has already confirmed its nuclear arms possession.

Earlier on Wednesday during a conference on nuclear security in London, ElBaradei labeled the North as the "No. 1 challenge" to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

He stressed the need to do everything possible to engage the country, expressing concern that Pyongyang had become a "black box" impenetrable to the IAEA following its abandonment of the NPT in 2002.